A Practical View of Regeneration

Archibald Alexander
[Published in The Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, volume 8 (1836).]
That human nature has lost that moral purity and perfetion !ith !hih it !as
ori"inally endued, is a truth !hih lies at the heart of the #hristian reli"ion. $ndeed, !e see
not ho! it an be denied by the deist, !ithout astin" a "ross refletion on the harater of
%od. $t is only from the &riptures, ho!ever, that !e learn the ori"in of evil. 'ere !e read,
that %od made man upri"ht, but he hath sou"ht out many inventions. (an bein" in honor
ontinued not. )hen %od reated man he formed him in his o!n ima"e and after his o!n
li*eness+ and !hat that ima"e onsisted in, the apostle Paul informs us, !hen he spea*s of the
ne! reation. ,-nd that ye be rene!ed in the spirit of your mind. -nd that ye put on the ne!
man !hih after %od is reated in ri"hteousness and true holiness., The phrase ,after %od,,
means after the ima"e of %od. This is e.pressed in the parallel passa"e, ,&eein" that ye have
put off the old man !ith his deeds, and have put on the ne! man, !hih is rene!ed in
*no!led"e after the ima"e of him that reated him., /y the fall this moral ima"e !as effaed.
The mind !hih had been illumined by divine truth beame spiritually blind+ the heart !hose
e.erises had been holy and harmonious, beame orrupt, the hot0bed of every viious
propensity, and the enter of dar*ness and disorder. $nstead of moral beauty, there !as no!
deformity. $n the plae of pure feliity, misery sueeded. The soul !as no! turned !ith
aversion from %od and holiness, and the affetions attahed themselves to the reature.
1eason and onsiene no lon"er had ontrol over the inferior passions and appetites+ but
these, sei2in" the reins of "overnment, ur"ed man on to arnal indul"enes inonsistent !ith
purity and peae. /ein" no! alienated from %od, man beame his o!n enter around !hih
he endeavored to ma*e all thin"s revolve, from !hih the most direful disorder ensued+ yet he
persists in atin" upon this priniple of supreme selfishness. -lthou"h this depravity !as from
its ommenement total, inasmuh as all holy e.erise and all holy motives !ere banished
from the mind+ yet is human ini3uity apable of indefinite inrease. $ts natural pro"ress is
from bad to !orse, !ithout a oneivable limit. -ll therefore are not e3ual in sin and "uilt. The
same person is omparatively innoent !hen he ommenes his ourse, to !hat he beomes at
the end of a lon" life of trans"ression. -nd the enormity of his "uilt, as !ell as the obstinate
perverseness of his evil nature, depends on the learness of the li"ht resisted, and the
multitude of the meries abused. )i*edness may attain its "reatest visible hei"ht amon" the
heathen, but in the si"ht of %od, self0ri"hteous Pharisees are more "uilty than Publians+ and
/ethsaida, #hora2in and #apernaum !ill have a more intolerable doom than Tyre and &idon,
or even than &odom itself. The deepest "uilt is ontrated under the lear sunshine of the
"ospel, and by those !hose privile"es, opportunities, alls and professions, lay them under the
stron"est obli"ations to love and serve their #reator.
The proof of the !i*edness of man is found in every part of the /ible+ and it is a truth
onfirmed by all history and e.periene. That a reformation !ould be desirable, and that all
men need to be made better than they are, !ill not be denied. /ut there is a deep0rooted
opinion in the minds of men, that this reformation and return to the servie of %od, !ill be
easy !henever they shall determine upon it. The need for supernatural po!er to re"enerate
the soul is not ommonly felt+ and !hen men be"in to be onvined of their impotene as it
relates to holy ats, they are prone to ma*e their depravity, !hih is the only ause of their
inability, their e.use.
The neessity of re"eneration arises from the fat, that man by the fall has beome dead
in sin. &piritual life is e.tint, and, therefore, if any are saved, they must be re"enerated. 4ife
annot sprin" from death. 4ife is a "ift of %od in all ases. 'e breathed into man, !hen his
body !as formed out of the lay, the breath of life. $t !ould be as reasonable to believe that
the or"ani2ed body ould inspire itself !ith life, as that the dead soul an perform ats of
spiritual life. -ll men havin" fallen into the same spiritual death, all need re"eneration. &ome
men are amiable in their natural temper, and re"ular in their e.ternal behavior+ but these also
are naturally blind and depraved. They have no ri"ht apprehensions of %od, no holy affetions
to!ards him, no heerful and habitual purpose to serve him. They need therefore to be
onverted, ho!ever hi"hly they may be esteemed amon" men. Thou"h suh, li*e the youn"
ruler !ho ame to #hrist, may have many amiable 3ualities !hih entitle them to the love of
their friends, yet, li*e him, they may la* one thin". Their hearts may be fi.ed, li*e his, on
!orldly ob5ets. 4et all suh, therefore, be assured that, as !ell as others, they must be born
a"ain. (an loo*eth on the out!ard appearane, but %od searheth the heart+ and often that
!hih is hi"hly esteemed amon" men is an abomination in the si"ht of %od. 6nder a fair
e.terior there often lies onealed a heart full of unbelief, pride, and in"ratitude. /y the
restraints of eduation, an enli"htened onsiene, and a re"ard to reputation, sin may be *ept
from brea*in" out into enormous and shameful ations+ but the seeds of all ini3uity are
onealed in every heart. (en are satisfied ommonly if they an so re"ulate their lives as to
esape the ensure of men, and the dis"rae !hih follo!s !i*ed ations, but they pay little
attention to their hearts !hih are as a a"e of unlean birds. (ost men are not in the habit of
5ud"in" of their thou"hts, ima"inations and feelin"s, by the holy la! of %od, !hih ondemns
every !anderin" of desire, every unhallo!ed temper, and every !ant of supreme and perfet
love. $f !e loo* upon our o!n hearts !e must be onvined that all is not ri"ht !ithin. $f our
hearts are naturally "ood, !hy do they turn a!ay !ith stron" seret aversion from the
spiritual servie of %od7 $f our hearts are not dead to %od, !hy are !e not daily deli"hted !ith
the ontemplation of his "lorious attributes7 )hy is prayer a burden7 )hy are !e so entirely
en"rossed !ith sensible and !orldly pursuits and pleasures7 -nd if the moral and amiable
need re"eneration, !hat shall !e say of the multitudes !ho are livin" in open rebellion a"ainst
%od7 The profane, the un5ust, the intemperate, the lientious, the soffer, the false0s!earer,
the defrauder of the !ido! and the orphan, the sabbath0brea*er, the liar, the ne"leters of
%od8s !orship, the slanderer, and a multitude of others !ho live habitually in *no!n sin,
surely need to be reformed, and they !ill never be thorou"hly reformed until they are
re"enerated. &uh must put off the old man !ith his orrupt deeds, and put on the ne! man.
,4et the !i*ed forsa*e his !ay, and the unri"hteous man his thou"hts, and let him return
unto the 4ord, and he !ill have mery upon him, and to our %od !ho !ill abundantly
pardon., There is an ur"ent neessity that every sinner should repent, for true repentane is
unto life. -nd !hat our 4ord delared to the 9e!s is true of all, and !as intended for all.
,:.ept ye repent ye shall all li*e!ise perish,, and Paul preahed to the -thenians that ,%od
no! ommandeth all men every !here to repent, beause he hath appointed a day in the
!hih he !ill 5ud"e the !orld in ri"hteousness by that man !hom he hath ordained, of !hih
he hath "iven assurane unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead., :van"elial
repentane, onversion and re"eneration, are substantially the same. They all si"nify a
thorou"h han"e of vie!s, affetions, purposes and ondut+ and this han"e is every !here
delared to be essential to salvation. -nd this is not a merely arbitrary onstitution. ;o one is
apable of the en5oyment of heavenly feliity !ho has never been born a"ain. )ithout
spiritual life, !hat !ould the sinner do in heaven7 $f men have no love to %od, nor relish for
his servie, heaven is no plae for them. 'eaven is a holy plae, and all the e.erises and
employments are holy, therefore, ,)ithout holiness no man shall see the 4ord., -nd to be
holy, ye must be born a"ain.
'avin" onsidered the neessity of re"eneration, !e ome no! to spea* of the po!er by
!hih it is effeted <mdash+ of the instrument in aomplishin" it <mdash+ and of its nature
and effets.
1e"eneration must be the peuliar !or* of %od, beause it is ,a ne! reation,, and no
po!er but that of %od is ade3uate to suh a !or*. $t is a resurretion from the !orst *ind of
death, and none an inspire the dead !ith life but the -lmi"hty. $t is "ivin" si"ht to the blind,
and openin" the eyes !hih never sa! the li"ht of day, to behold the beauty of holiness, and
the "lory of %od+ but the same po!er !hih in the be"innin" aused li"ht to shine out of
dar*ness, must shine into our hearts to "ive us the li"ht of the *no!led"e of the "lory of %od
in the fae of 9esus #hrist. ,:.ept a man be born of !ater and the spirit he annot see the
*in"dom of %od., ,The !ind blo!eth !here it listeth, et., so is every one that is born of the
spirit., ,That !hih is born of the flesh is flesh, and that !hih is born of the spirit is spirit.,
Those !ho are the sons of %od are not ,born of blood, nor of the !ill of the flesh, nor of the
!ill of man, but of %od., Paul alls this han"e ,the !ashin" of re"eneration,, and ,the
rene!in" of the 'oly %host., -nd =avid prays, ,#reate in me a lean heart, > %od, and rene!
a ri"ht spirit !ithin me., /ut !hy multiply proofs of a truth so evident from reason as !ell as
&ripture7 $f there be any suh internal han"e of the heart, %od must be its author+ for ho!
else ould it be produed7 ,)ho an brin" a lean thin" out of an unlean7 ;ot one., $f a tree
be evil, !ho an ma*e it "ood, but he !ho reated it7 $f the heart be deeitful above all thin"s
and desperately !i*ed, !ill it purify itself7 $f all the thou"hts and ima"inations of man8s
heart are evil and only evil and that ontinually, !hene !ill sprin" a holy nature7 ?or a
sinner to re"enerate himself !ould be as absurd an idea, as for a man to reate or be"et
himself. $t is %od that be"ins this "ood !or* !ithin his people, and he !ill arry it on.
-s %od the 'oly &pirit is the -uthor of re"eneration+ so the instrument employed is the
)ord of %od. This is as learly tau"ht in &ripture as that %od is the author or effiient ause.
%od is able to !or* !ithout means, but both in the !orlds of nature and "rae it has pleased
him to employ appropriate means for the aomplishment of his o!n ends. /ut althou"h !e
*no! the fat that there is an established onnetion bet!een means and ends+ yet !e are not
ompetent to e.plain, in any ase, ho! the end is produed by the means employed. >ur
animal frame is formed, and or"ani2ed, and nourished, and *ept alive, and reovered from
disease by means adapted to these ends, but no one an e.plain the seret proess of nature in
these operations. #urious in3uiries respetin" the !ay in !hih the !ord is instrumental in
the prodution of this han"e are not for edifiation. &ometimes re"eneration is onsidered
distintly from the ats and e.erises of the mind !hih proeed from it, but in the 'oly
&riptures the ause and effet are inluded+ and !e shall therefore treat the sub5et in this
pratial and popular form. The instrumentality of the !ord an never dero"ate from the
effiient a"eny of the &pirit in this !or*. The &pirit operates by and throu"h the !ord. The
!ord derives all its po!er and penetratin" ener"y from the &pirit. )ithout the omnipotene of
%od the !ord !ould be as ineffiient as lay and spittle, to restore si"ht to the blind. :2e*iel
!as ommanded to prophesy over the dry bones in the valley of vision. Thus ministers are
no! sent to all upon those !ho are dead in trespasses and sins, to a!a*e and arise from the
dead, but none !ill obey their voie, unless a divine po!er aompanies their !ords. (en, it is
true, are rational and aountable a"ents, and are therefore proper sub5ets of ommands and
e.hortations+ yet are they destitute of spiritual life, and no po!er but that of %od as !e have
seen an ommuniate life. )hen the &pirit operates by the !ord, the soul before dead in sin
is rendered suseptible of impressions from divine truth. The entrane of the truth under this
divine influene "ives li"ht, and e.ites holy affetions, !hih prompt to "ood purposes, and
as a matter of ourse, the e.ternal ations are in obediene to the la! of %od. The man
beomes a ne! reature. 'is !i*ed life is reformed. -tions before materially "ood are no!
performed from love to %od and !ith a vie! to his "lory. That the !ord of %od is indeed the
instrument or means of produin" this han"e is evident from many plain testimonies of
&ripture+ suh as the follo!in", ,The 4a! of the 4ord is perfet, onvertin" the soul., ,The
testimonies of the 4ord are sure ma*in" !ise the simple., ,&o then faith ometh by hearin",
and hearin" by the !ord of %od., ,>f his o!n !ill be"at he us !ith the !ord of truth., ,/ein"
born a"ain not of orruptible seed but of inorruptible, by the !ord of %od !hih liveth and
abideth forever., Therefore the !ord of %od is alled ,the s!ord of the &pirit,, and is said to
be ,3ui* and po!erful, and sharper than any t!o0ed"ed s!ord, pierin" even to the dividin"
asunder the soul and spirit, and of the 5oints and marro!, and is a diserner to the thou"hts
and intents of the heart., &o in the e.position of the parable of the so!er, our 4ord says, ,The
seed is the !ord of %od., -nd this seed, !hen so!n on "ood "round brin"eth forth fruit
manifold. ,?or these are they !hih hear the !ord and reeive it and brin" forth fruit., The
most preious seed never ve"etates nor brin"s forth fruit, until it reeives a vivifyin" influene
from !ithout+ so the !ord of %od, unaompanied by the influenes of the 'oly &pirit,
remains unfruitful, ho!ever often it may be heard or read+ or ho!ever it may be treasured in
the memory or theoretially understood. To have fruit it is not only neessary to have "ood
seed, but "ood "round. (a*e the tree "ood and the fruit shall be "ood+ for a orrupt tree
annot brin" forth "ood fruit. There is need of a 3ui*enin" influene on the dead soul of the
sinner to render it apable of apprehendin" and appreiatin" the truth. $n the order of
ausation life must preede ation, but in the order of time the ommuniation of life and the
ats of the ne! reature are simultaneous. 4a2arus !as alled from the dead by the voie of
#hrist, but he must have been inspired !ith life before he ould hear that voie. /ut still it is
proper to say, that he !as alled into life by the omnipotent voie of our &avior. &o !hen the
"ospel is preahed, the dead hear the voie of the &on of %od and live. >r !e may illustrate the
instrumentality of the !ord by the ase of the blind man !hose eyes our 4ord opened. This
man, !hen he first loo*ed up, sa! ob5ets indistintly, ,men as trees !al*in"+, but !hen he
loo*ed a seond time, he sa! thin"s learly. #hrist aused this man to see by the li"ht of
heaven !hih shone around him+ but the po!er ausin" him to see !as e.erted on the eye,
removin" the obstales to vision, or supplyin" !hat !as defetive in the or"an. -s soon as this
!as done, the li"ht !as the medium of the pereption of surroundin" ob5ets. Thus the soul of
every man is by nature blind. The li"ht may shine around him, but he omprehendeth it not.
,The natural man reeiveth not the thin"s of the &pirit of %od, they are foolishness unto him,
neither an he *no! them beause they are spiritually diserned., /y the ener"y of the 'oly
&pirit this inapaity of spiritual vision is ta*en a!ay+ the eyes of the understandin" are
enli"htened. The blindness is removed, and spiritual ob5ets are pereived+ but alas@ !ith
most, very indistintly at first. ,The li"ht of the 5ust inreaseth more and more unto the
perfet day., Truth is 5ust as neessary to every spiritual at and e.erise, as li"ht is to vision.
)here the truth is not apprehended there an be no faith, for faith is a belief of the truth+
there an be no love, for it is by the truth that the e.ellenies of the harater of %od and
#hrist are made *no!n. )ithout the *no!led"e of the truth, there an be no repentane, for
this is the li"ht !hih sho!s the holiness and e.tent of the la! and the evil of sin. Thus it is
evident that !ithout the truth there an be no holy e.erise and no true obediene. Therefore,
!e never find the 'oly &pirit operatin" on adults but as aompanyin" the !ord of truth. )e
an oneive of a preparation of the heart to reeive the truth before it is *no!n, as in fat the
*no!led"e of the truth is a3uired very "radually. Thus !e an oneive of a divine a"eny on
the heart of a heathen, by !hih he !ould be disposed to reeive the truth as soon as it should
be made *no!n. &uh a divine influene does probably prepare the !ay for the suess of the
"ospel+ but !here the !ord is never sent, there !e have no evidene that the &pirit e.erts his
renovatin" influene on the minds of men. Thus also !e an form some idea ho! infants are
re"enerated. -s they are apable of no moral e.erises at present, they do not need the truth+
but the &pirit of %od an so renovate their depraved souls as to render them apable of
apprehendin" and feelin" the truth, as soon as their faulties are suffiiently developed+
!hether in this !orld or in another. -nd as !e are all by nature the hildren of !rath <mdash+
oneived in sin <mdash+ and dead, infants need re"eneration as really as adults, and annot
en5oy the holy happiness of heaven !ithout suh a renovation of their fallen nature.
?rom the onnetion !hih %od has established in ordinary ases bet!een the !ord
and re"eneration, !e see the importane of sendin" the "ospel to the heathen, and of havin"
the "ood seed of the !ord so!n as muh as possible in every soul. The !ord should be
preahed in season and out of season, and the truth should be inulated on the minds of
hildren from their earliest years. 'ere is !or* in !hih all may en"a"e and be useful. 'ene
also !e learn ho! preious the boo* of %od is !hih ontains his holy !ord, and ho!
desirable it is to have it faithfully translated into all lan"ua"es, and irulated round the earth,
until every family shall be in possession of the orales of %od. ?or not only in the preahin" of
the !ord of %od, but also the readin" of the 'oly &riptures, an effetual means of salvation.
-"reeably to that in the )estminster &horter #atehism, ,The &pirit of %od ma*eth the
readin", but espeially the preahin" of the !ord, an effetual means of onvinin" and
onvertin" sinners, and of buildin" them up in holiness and omfort, throu"h faith unto
salvation., Paul !as not ashamed of the "ospel of #hrist, ,for it is the po!er of %od unto
salvation to every one that believeth.,
That usually a onvition of sin ta*es plae previously to a han"e of heart, is a fat of
ommon e.perieneA and there seems to be a solid reason for this, that the sinful moral a"ent
may be sensible of his miserable ondition before he is delivered from it. -s man naturally
see*s to 5ustify himself by his o!n ri"hteousness, it is neessary that he should be ut off from
this dependene on a bro*en la!, !hih is no! 8!ea* throu"h the flesh,8 and annot brin" him
to life+ and that he should see and feel that he is already 5ustly ondemned, and must despair
of relief from the la!. %od permits the a!a*ened sinner to try !hat he an do to!ards savin"
himself, until !earied !ith his o!n ineffetual efforts, he is brou"ht to feel that he is indeed a
lost sinner, and that there is no hope for him but in the soverei"n mery of %od, on !hih he
has no laim. $t is suitable that !hen so "reat a benefit as pardon and eternal life is besto!ed,
it should be so onferred, as that the un!orthy reipient should be fully onvined that it is a
free "ift, and an undeserved favor !hih mi"ht be most 5ustly !ithheld. >ther!ise the saved
sinner !ould not feel a deep sense of his obli"ations+ and his "ratitude for free "rae throu"h
eternity !ould not be so ardent. &ome, ho!ever, are inlined to the opinion that onvition of
sin, !hih is of any real value, is subse3uent to re"eneration, and forms a part of that
evan"elial repentane !hih all the hosen of %od e.periene. They suppose, that mere le"al
terrors, !hih are often felt by the reprobate here, and by all the !i*ed in hell, an have no
neessary onnetion !ith re"eneration+ and that that deep sense of the turpitude and demerit
of sin, !hih ommonly preedes a sense of reoniliation, and is by many thou"ht to preede
re"eneration, is really a onse3uene of that spiritual han"e, and a sure evidene that it has
ta*en plae. -s the 3uestion only relates to the order of the e.erises of the true penitent, it
seems unneessary to oupy time in disussin" it. >n both sides it is a"reed that mere le"al
onvitions, ho!ever the onsious may be a!a*ened, and the soul a"itated !ith terror, are no
evidenes of a han"e of heart. -nd it is also a"reed, that all re"enerate persons are brou"ht to
a deep sense of the intrinsi evil of sin, and this leads them inevitably to the onlusion, that
%od !ould be 5ust if he should inflit upon them the ondi"n punishment !hih he has
threatened in his !ord. $ndeed, !hen the mind is spiritually enli"htened to see somethin" of
the "reat evil of sin, the penitent soul annot help ta*in" the part of %od a"ainst itself, and
approvin" of its o!n ondemnation.
The 3uestion is sometimes as*ed, !hether is re"eneration an instantaneous or a
"radual !or*7 This is not a merely speulative 3uestion. $f this is a "radual !or*, the soul may
for some time, yea, for years, be han"in" bet!een life and death, and be in neither one state or
nor the other, !hih is impossible. &uppose a dead man to be brou"ht to life by a divine
po!er, as 4a2arus !as, ould there be any 3uestion of !hether the ommuniation of life !as
immediate7 :ven if the vital priniple !as so !ea* as not to manifest itself at one, yet its
ommenement must be instantaneous+ beause it may be truly asserted that suh a man is
dead or alive+ if the former, life has not ommened, and !henever that state eases, the man
lives, for there is no intermediate state. &o in re"ard to the ommuniation of spiritual life, the
same thin" may be asserted+ for !hatever re"eneration is, the transition from a state of nature
to a state of "rae must our at some point of time, the moment before the sinner !as
unre"enerate. This !ill be true even upon the priniples of those !ho believe that the
e.erises of the re"enerate man are not speifially different from those !hih are found in
natural men under the ommon operations of the &pirit, but that the differene is merely in
de"ree. ?or aordin" to this theory, there !ill be some ertain de"ree at !hih the man may
be pronouned re"enerate+ at any inferior de"ree he is unre"enerate+ then the moment in
!hih he passes from the ne.t inferior de"ree to that in !hih re"eneration onsists is the
moment of re"eneration. )e suppose that they !ho are pleased !ith this notion of the nature
of re"eneration !ould fi. upon the time !hen pious feelin"s and desires beome predominant
as the period !hen the man is re"enerated+ but this must our at some partiular moment,
and thus, re"eneration is immediate and not "radual. /y "radual re"eneration, ho!ever, they
may mean a "radual preparation for that state, by a ontinual inrease of "ood desires and
resolutions up to the time !hen the man beomes a true #hristian. 6pon this hypothesis, the
orret !ay of spea*in" !ould be to say that the preparatory !or* !as "radual, but
re"eneration itself !as instantaneous. -s if the han"e !ere ompared to the entrane into
some enlosure. The line of separation bet!een the spae !ithin and the spae !ithout is
passed in a moment+ yet in omin" to it many steps may have been re3uired, and muh time
employed. /ut this theory of re"eneration !hih ma*es it to be nothin" else but an inrease of
previously e.istin" priniples is not onsistent !ith reason, e.periene, or &ripture. $ndeed,
there !ould be no propriety in the use of the !ord on this hypothesisA for suh a han"e !ould
be nothin" else but the "ro!th of a priniple already in e.istene. To re"enerate is to be"et
a"ain, to "ive ori"in to a *ind of life not already e.istin" in the person. -"ain, aordin" to this
theory, there may be an almost inoneivably small differene bet!een the re"enerate and
unre"enerate. &uppose the latter to have advaned to the point nearest to the line of
demaration, of ourse the differene bet!een him and the man !ho has atually passed the
line may be so small that it annot be distintly oneivedA and yet one of these is supposed to
"o to heaven, !hile the other is sent to hell. $t is true that "rae in the feeblest saint prevails
over sin and the !orld habitually+ but sometimes ini3uities prevail a"ainst him for a season,
as in the ase of =avid and Peter. 6pon this theory the believer, in every suh ase, must be
fallen from "rae+ for if re"eneration too* plae !hen "ood affetions predominated, !hen at
any time they lose their predominane, the believer must have fallen from his re"enerate
state, !hih opinion is held by some -rminians, !ho maintain that both =avid and Peter had
entirely lost the priniple of "rae and had fallen into ondemnation. /ut the true &riptural
dotrine is, that there is a speifi differene bet!een the e.erises of the re"enerate and the
unre"enerate. $n the one there is true faith, sinere love to %od, and "enuine repentane,
!hereas in the other, there are no suh e.erises, in any de"ree. There may be resemblanes
and ounterfeits, but in souls dead in trespasses and sins, there e.ists no faith, no sinere love,
nor any other e.erise of the spiritual life. The arnal mind is enmity a"ainst, and is not
sub5et to the la! of %od, neither an be. /ut !hen re"eneration ta*es plae, althou"h the
e.erises of piety may for a time be feeble, yet everlastin" life is be"un+ suh a soul an never
perish for it is united to #hrist by an indissoluble union.
The ommenement of this !or* is often involved in muh obsurity, as in the ase of
those !ho have been reli"iously eduated, and have been early made the sub5ets of the savin"
operations of the 'oly &pirit. &uh persons havin" never run to the same e.ess of !i*edness
as many others, the han"e in their e.ternal ondut is not very pereptible+ and havin" been
re"enerated at a period of life !hen their *no!led"e !as small, and their 5ud"ment !ea*, they
are unable to determine satisfatorily the nature of their early impressions. $n onse3uene of
this, and from observin" a more remar*able han"e in others, they are led to all in 3uestion
the reality of their onversion. $ndeed, there is muh dan"er lest unre"enerate persons should,
throu"h the e.eedin" deeitfulness of the heart, onfound the tender impressions !hih are
sometimes e.periened by youth reli"iously instruted, !ith the savin" !or* of the 'oly
&pirit. :.ternal re"ularity and deeny of deportment, !ith a respet for reli"ion, and
oasional fits of ompuntion, and stron" desires of salvation, have indued many to herish
a fallaious hope+ and sometimes pious parents and ministers from a soliitous desire to see
the youn" ta*in" their plae in the hurh, have been aessory to this delusion. -nd the
dan"er of deeption is "reatly inreased, !hen artifiial means of e.itement are applied to a
mind tenderly a!a*e to the importane of reli"ion. 6nder suh influenes, many, after a
season of a"itation, have e.periened an animal e.hilaration, or a alm !hih naturally
sueeds a storm, and have hastily ta*en up the fond persuasion that they had e.periened a
han"e of heart, !hen all that has been felt is nothin" more than the !or*in"s of nature, or at
most the onvitions and desires !hih arise from the ommon influenes of the &pirit. )hen
suh persons are persuaded to enter the ommunion of the hurh hastily, one of t!o events
!ill ensue. :ither they !ill forsa*e their profession and fall ba* to the !orld+ or they !ill
beome formalists, and perhaps hyporites, for life+ seretly pratiin" ini3uity, and utterly
ne"letin" the reli"ion of the heart, and often of the loset, !hile their publi duties in the
hurh are re"ularly, and it may be 2ealously performed. ?or as suh professors have it as an
ob5et to lead others to thin* !ell of their reli"ion, they !ill sometimes affet a 2eal !hih is
not "enuine, and !ill manifest a stritness borderin" on ri"or, in e.ternal rites and
observanes. The savor of piety is ho!ever !antin", and the spirit of #hristian humility and
mee*ness annot be ounterfeitedA the very attempt betrays the !ant of these tempers. -nd
%od in his ri"hteous providene often brin"s false professors into suh irumstanes, that
their true harater is manifested to all men. They are permitted to fall into dis"raeful sins in
the si"ht of men, or their seret rimes, in !hih they had lon" indul"ed, are made publi.
The onversion of some persons is so remar*able, either on aount of the "reatness
and suddenness of the han"e, or the learness !ith !hih %od reveals #hrist to their souls,
that it is almost impossible for them to doubt the "enuineness of their onversion. &uh a ase
!as that of Paul. &uh also !as the onversion of #ol. %ardiner. The ases of 9ohn ;e!ton
and 1ihard #eil are some!hat different. They had both "one to "reat len"ths in infidelity
and profli"ay, so that the han"e !as very "reat, yet it !as not sudden but "radual. &till they
seem never to have doubted of the reality of their han"e.
The vie!s and feelin"s of all re"enerated souls are of the same *ind, althou"h they may
be e.eedin"ly different in de"ree, and "reatly modified by a variety of irumstanes.
Probably every ase of "enuine reli"ious e.periene has somethin" peuliar. The
irumstanes !hih ommonly "ive omple.ion to these e.erises are onstitutional
temperament, early habits and assoiations, the dotrinal *no!led"e possessed, the de"ree of
terror or pun"eny of onvition !hih preeded, and the nature of the truths !hih happen
to be first ontemplated by the re"enerated mind. $t is a vain thin", therefore, to attempt to
"ive in e.at detail and order, the e.erises of the ne! reature. ?or one man to ma*e his o!n
e.periene the standard by !hih to measure all other #hristians is as unreasonable as it
!ould be to insist that all men should be of the same stature, stren"th, and omple.ion. /ut in
the midst of this diversity there is a "eneral li*eness. The same truths operate on all, and the
same affetions are e.ited in all. ,$f any man be in #hrist, he is a ne! reature, old thin"s are
passed a!ay, behold all thin"s are beome ne!., )ithout underta*in" to desribe the feelin"s
of the rene!ed man in their atual suession, !e !ill spea* of them in relation to the truths
by !hih they are produed. - re"enerated soul has vie!s of %od8s holy harater and of his
la!, different from any e.periened before. The dotrinal or speulative notions may have
been orret or e.tensive, but to the intrinsi e.ellene of spiritual ob5ets, the unre"enerate
man is blind. ,The natural man reeiveth not the thin"s of the &pirit of %od they are
foolishness unto him, neither an he *no! them beause they are spiritually diserned., The
vie! no! en5oyed may be faint and indistint, but still it is of the ri"ht *ind, and the emotions
!hih aompany it are ne!. - reverential fear of %od is spread over the soul+ a holy a!e
ta*es possession of the mind. There is also a deeper impression of the presene, po!er and
ma5esty of %od. 'is holiness is most distintly ontemplated in the moral la!, and !e annot
behold the divine ima"e in the "lass, !ithout a deep onvition of our o!n sinfulness, and
lively sorro! for the sins !hih !e have ommitted. These sins appear no! to be e.eedin"
base, and the soul is not only penetrated !ith "rief, but over!helmed !ith shame, eases not
to ondemn itself for havin" onsented thus to trans"ress a holy la!, and is deeply humbled in
self0abasement before %od. There is no lon"er any disposition to entertain hard thou"hts of
%od as bein" too severe, but he is fully 5ustified in the inmost onvitions of the heart, and the
penitent, instead of e.usin" or palliatin" his o!n sins, ta*es upon himself the !hole blame,
and freely a*no!led"es that %od !ould be perfetly 5ust in the inflition of the tremendous
penalty of his holy la!. $ndeed, the vie! of divine 5ustie is sometimes so lear, and that
attribute appears so e.ellent, that the enli"htened soul annot but approve his o!n
ondemnation. 'e fully a3uieses in the ri"hteousness of the divine administration, althou"h
he should be sent to hell. ,-nd if my soul !ere sent to hell, Thy ri"hteous la! approves it
!ell.,
-nother emotion !hih is ommon to all penitents, is a pun"ent sense of in"ratitude to
the best of bein"s and *indest of benefators. There is no vie! !hih so ertainly brea*s and
melts the hard heart as a sense of %od8s "oodness+ espeially of his lon" sufferin" and patiene
!hih bore !ith us !hile !e !ere !i*edly rebellin" a"ainst him. $f tears ever flo!, this
feelin" !ill dra! them forth in opious floods. There is one vie! of sin ho!ever !hih
produes an effet !ithout parallel. $t is the representation of its abominable nature in the
ross of #hrist, in the painful !ounds inflited on his body, in the i"nominy to !hih he !as
e.posed, and above all, in the vials of !rath !hih !ere poured out !ithout mi.ture or
miti"ation on his holy soul. 'ere, as it !ere in haraters of blood, !e see depited the
unspea*able turpitude and "uilt of sin. 'ere, at the foot of the ross, the love of sin reeives a
death0!ound, and the heart is divored from all its lon" herished idols. ;o! the solemn
purpose is formed to forsa*e sin, and to endeavor to live to %od, in all holy obediene. #hrist
appears "lorious and lovely not only as a &avior but as a 4ord+ and there is no! no relutane
or hesitation about reeivin" him and trustin" in him. ?or a !hile the onvined and humbled
sinner is *ept ba* from losin" !ith the "raious terms of the "ospel, by a le"al spirit, by a
sense of its o!n un!orthiness, and a fear that if it omes it !ill not be reeived. $t annot
oneive of that rihes and freeness of "rae !hih !ill !elome the hief of sinners to the
house of mery. - lin"erin" thou"ht of some previous leansin" or preparation+ or at least of
some deeper onvition, or more tender relentin"s, prevents a speedy approah to 9esus. /ut
>, !hen he manifests his love !hih brou"ht him from a throne to a ross, doubt and unbelief
are driven a!ay, and li*e Thomas, the believin" penitent e.laims, ,(y 4ord and my %od.,
)here sin is truly repented of, there is al!ays a !illin"ness, and even a desire to
onfess it. Therefore !e read, ,That !ith the heart man believeth unto ri"hteousness, and !ith
the mouth onfession is made unto salvation., >ur onfession should be made hiefly unto
%od, for him have !e offended. ,-"ainst thee, thee only have $ sinned and done this evil., -nd
the sinere penitent spends muh time in humble prostration of soul before %od, onfessin"
!ith bro*enness of heart his multiplied and a""ravated sins. 'e is ready to onfess faults
before men, and espeially before the hurh, so far as it is thou"ht to be for the "lory of %od
and edifiation of the hurh. -nd if he has done in5ustie to individuals, he !ishes to onfess
the !ron", and is an.ious to ma*e reparation, and even to do more. ,'alf my "oods,, said the
onverted publian, ,$ "ive to the poor, and if $ have !ron"ed any man by false ausation, $
restore him fourfold., The prayer of another publian !as, ,%od be meriful to me a sinner.,
$t must not be passed over, thou"h it !ould be understood by every e.periened reader,
that suh vie!s as have been desribed annot but en*indle a holy flame of love to #hrist, and
to his ause and people. True faith annot e.ist !ithout love <mdash+ it !or*s by love. The
vie!s of faith ause the love of %od to be shed abroad in the soul, and a sense of his love
en*indles ours. ,)e love him beause he first loved us., %od is love. This is the bri"htest and
most amiable aspet of his harater+ and !hen that divine e.ellene is manifested in
unparalleled love to us, it annot but produe a po!erful effet in !innin" the affetions, and
dra!in" forth the heart in returns of love to him, ,!ho has loved us and "iven himself for us.,
%reater love hath no man than this, that a man lay do!n his life for his friendsA but %od hath
manifested his love by "ivin" his only be"otten &on to die for us !hile !e !ere enemies. The
ross beomes the "reat point of attration to the believer, and the enter of his !armest
affetions. ?rom this point radiate the bri"htest rays of the divine "lory. ?rom the ross "o
forth the most potent influenes to on3uer the !orld, and to dra! all men to the &avior. The
re"enerate man lives by faith upon his ruified 1edeemer. Paul8s e.periene is this, ,$ am
ruified !ith #hrist, nevertheless $ live, yet not $, but #hrist liveth in me, and the life !hih $
no! live $ live by the faith of the &on of %od, !ho loved me and "ave himself for me., The ne!
life inspired in re"eneration is a life of dependene <mdash+ of entire dependene upon
#hrist. The love of %od in #hrist is the animatin" priniple of the ne! reature. /ut "raes rise
not alone, they luster to"ether, and mutually support and adorn eah other. ?aith !or*s by
love+ faith and love united "enerate hope+ for the "ood !hih is loved and loo*ed for, is not
present but future. -nd !hen hope rises to assurane it brin"s forth 5oy+ and a sense of %od8s
favor, and onfidene in his mery and protetion fills the soul !ith abidin" peae+ a peae
!hih the !orld annot "ive, but !hih #hrist often breathes into the hearts of his disiples.
,(y peae $ leave !ith you, my peae $ "ive unto you, not as the !orld "iveth "ive $ unto you.
4et not your heart be troubled nor afraid.,
/ut althou"h true reli"ion onsists essentially in ri"ht feelin", it does not stop there, but
"oes forth into out!ard ats of obediene. Prayer and praise are no lon"er a tas*, but a
deli"ht. &earhin" the &riptures, and meditation on the !or*s and !ord of %od, beome the
daily employments of the "enuine onvert+ and his pro"ress in divine *no!led"e is often
astonishin"ly rapid. 'e thirsts after the *no!led"e of %od, and his prayers for divine
illumination are ans!ered by the "raious influenes of the 'oly &pirit, !ho by de"rees leads
him into the *no!led"e of all neessary truth. The oasions of soial and publi !orship are
pleasant and refreshin" to the rene!ed man, and the sared rest and holy e.erises of the
#hristian sabbath are in perfet orrespondene !ith the taste and temper of his mind. 'e is
ready to e.laim, ,$ !as "lad !hen they said unto me, let us "o into the house of the 4ord.,
,'o! amiable are thy tabernales, > 4ord of hosts, my soul lon"eth, yea, even fainteth for the
ourts of the 4ord., ,>ne day in thy ourts is better than a thousand., - rene!ed heart is not
only a devotional but a benevolent heart. >ne of the stron"est feelin"s e.periened by the
person truly onverted is a desire for the salvation of others. This e.pansive desire may be"in
at home amon" his o!n *indred and friends, but it !ill "o on to enlar"e the irle until it has
no other limits but the ends of the earth. :very man, ho!ever separated by distane or other
irumstanes, is vie!ed as a nei"hbor and a brother, and the desire of happiness for all !ho
are not removed beyond the reah of mery, beomes a herished and predominate feelin",
and prompts to ative e.ertions as !ell as fervent prayers in behalf of those !ho are perishin"
in unbelief or for la* of *no!led"e. -nd the sinere in3uiry is made, ,4ord !hat !ould thou
have me to do7, To promote the "lory of %od and the happiness of men are no! the t!o "reat
ends to !hih all plans and ations are direted. )ith heerful alarity and steady purpose the
re"enerated man be"ins a life of obediene and ative usefulness. -nd as %od has onneted
him !ith others by various relations, out of !hih sprin" an obli"ation to perform relative
duties, he feels this obli"ation, and endeavors to fill up the irle of presribed ations !ith
dili"ene and fidelity. )hatever may be his ondition in life, he !ill find enou"h to do. -s a
parent, a husband or !ife, a hild or brother, a ma"istrate or private iti2en, a teaher or
pupil, a master or servant, a friend or stran"er, the la! of %od is so broad that it reahes his
ase and embraes every relation of human life, !hether natural or artifiial. The man !ho
steadily performs these duties, and from day to day, li*e the sun, "oes throu"h his presribed
ourse, is indeed a re"enerated man, for the tree is *no!n by its fruits.
-s this !orld is a plae of trial and disipline, the hild of %od is not only alled to at
!ith ener"y, but to suffer !ith patiene. 'e !ho is tau"ht of %od learns to be submissive to
the divine !ill, and to bear !ith fortitude those evils !hih are inident to pil"rims and
stran"ers in this !orld. /ut !hile the re"enerated man e.perienes those e.erises of piety
!hih have been mentioned, he is not free from feelin"s of ontrary nature. The old man, or
the deep0rooted priniple of sin, has reeived a deadly !ound in re"eneration, but the arnal
life lin"ers, and sometimes stru""les !ith "reat fore to reover the mastery of the soul.
$nnumerable orruptions are bred in the heart, and often these hidden evils are brou"ht to
vie! by the po!er of temptation, so that, for a season, ,ini3uities prevail,, and the un!athful
#hristian is led aptive by his enemies+ and if %od did not relaim him from his ba*slidin",
he !ould be utterly lost. The e.istene, at the same time, of t!o opposite priniples in the
soul, of neessity produes a onflit. ,The flesh lusteth a"ainst the spirit, and the spirit
a"ainst the flesh, so that !e annot do the thin"s that !e !ould., This spiritual onflit is very
painful, and the #hristian soldier is often astonished at himself, and is led to be!ail his o!n
imperfetion and inonsisteny. 'e finds his enemies to be muh more po!erful and
obstinate than he e.peted, !hen he enlisted under the banner of the ross. 'e pleased
himself then !ith the prospet of an easy vitory, and an almost unresisted pro"ress. &in
appeared to be dead+ but the appearane !as deeitful, it only lay onealed in the depths of a
deeitful heart. -nd !hen he finds the stren"th of his orruptions, and the feebleness of his
"raes, he is often muh disoura"ed, and "reatly fears that he shall one day fall by the hand of
some of his numerous enemies. The stability of the ovenant of "rae, and the faithfulness of
%od8s promises, are not at first fully understood+ but "radually the sinere onvert learns to
live by faith, *no!in" and feelin" that all his stren"th and omfort are treasured up in #hrist.
-nd after many painful ontests, and some shameful defeats, he has the pleasure of findin"
that his enemies "ive him less disturbane than before, and learns to resist them more
suessfully, by means of the !ord, prayer and faith.
?rom !hat has been said !e may dedue the follo!in" summary.
1. 1e"eneration is the ommenement of spiritual life in a soul before dead in sin, by
the omnipotent a"eny of %od+ and the e.erises of this life are speifially different from all
the e.erises of an unre"enerate heart.
B. The stren"th of the priniple of life in the ne! birth, as in the natural birth, is
e.eedin"ly various+ for !hile some are brou"ht into the !orld of "rae in the lear li"ht of
day, and are from the first ative and vi"orous, and en5oy muh omfort in their pious
e.erises+ others "ive very obsure evidene of bein" in possession of life, and remain lon" in a
state of feebleness. $ndeed, some are li*e hildren !ho seem at birth to be dead, but
after!ards revive, and by de"rees a3uire vi"or and maturity. /ut it by no means is a uniform
fat that the hildren !ho are most healthy and vi"orous at birth, ontinue to be so
throu"hout life. =isease or other disasters may he* their "ro!th, and debilitate their
onstitution+ !hile those !ho ommene life in e.treme !ea*ness may a3uire stren"th, and
"ro! prosperously from year to year+ so that, in mature a"e, they may have "reatly surpassed
many !ho !ere muh more healthy and vi"orous in the earliest sta"e of e.istene. -nalo"ous
to this are the fats observable in the spiritual life.
3. )hile some may e.periene this han"e so remar*ably that they never an doubt of
its reality, and an refer to the very day !hen they emer"ed from dar*ness to life, others, !ho
nevertheless are truly re"enerated, remain lon" in doubt about their spiritual state+ and even
!hen the evidene of their onversion beomes satisfatory, they are utterly unable to fi. the
preise time !hen they be"an to live. -nd it is probable that many !ho spea* !ith onfidene
of the time and plae of their ne! birth, mista*e entirely respetin" this pointA the time to
!hih they refer the ommenement of their spiritual life, is more probably the season of
some lear manifestation of the divine favor, !hen dar*ness and sorro! !ere sueeded by
5oy and peae+ and yet the priniple of life may have e.isted lon" before. There is "ood reason
to thin* that the e.erises of a soul under onvition are often those of the sinere penitent.
C. &piritual life is pro"ressive in its nature. 'abitual "ro!th in "rae is the best
evidene of its reality. Those affetions and 5oys !hih are temporary, ho!ever hi"h they may
arise, are not the e.erises of a ne! reature. 6nder the influene of a stron" love of happiness
and dread of misery, and the onvitions of an a!a*ened onsiene, many are "reatly
onerned about their salvation, and are indued to attend dili"ently and earnestly on the
means of "rae, and often are deeply impressed and shed many tears+ and from some latent
priniple in the human onstitution an oppressive burden of misery may suddenly be
sueeded by a feelin" of pleasure and li"htness, aompanied by the persuasion that sin is
pardoned and %od appeased. This han"e of feelin" may have its ori"in merely in the animal
frame or nervous system, and may be illustrated by the effets produed by physial auses,
suh as opiates, arminatives, nitrous0o.ide, et. >r these sudden 5oys may ori"inate in some
su""estion to the mind, as that our sins are pardoned, or that %od loves us, and the delusion is
more omplete if this sudden su""estion omes lothed in the lan"ua"e of &ripture, as son or
dau"hter ,thy sins are for"iven thee., These false onversions soon die a!ay, and li*e the seed
on stony "round, brin" no fruit to maturity. /ut "enuine piety is a "ro!in" priniple, and
proves that it has deep root by its re"ular advanement to!ards perfetion. This "radual
proess in piety is beautifully represented by our 4ord under the fi"ure of seed ve"etatin" and
"oin" on to maturity. ,&o is the *in"dom of %od, as if a man should ast seed into the "round,
and should sleep and rise ni"ht and day, and the seed should sprin" and "ro! up he *no!eth
not ho!. ?or the earth brin"eth forth fruit of herself, first the blade, then the ear+ after that the
full orn in the ear., %ro!th in piety resembles the "ro!th of the human body from hildhood
to manhood. ;o pro"ress is visible from one day to another, but in months and years the
inrease is manifest. -nd as the body, !hile risin" to maturity, may for a season be retarded or
thro!n ba* by disease, so also the health of the soul is sometimes deeply impaired, and the
e.erises of piety in suh a state of delension, beome e.tremely feeble. /ut from these
diseases the %reat Physiian *no!s ho! to reover the souls !hih he has redeemed.
D. %enuine piety is a permanent and undyin" priniple, and thus it may be
distin"uished from transient impressions, ho!ever po!erful+ yet !e should not suppose that
the e.erises of the real #hristian are uniform, or that all e.periene e3ual flutuations of
feelin". )e annot asertain, muh less desribe, all the auses !hih may sin"ly, or in
ombination, "ive omple.ion to the frames and e.erises of a hild of %od+ nor an !e
determine, in many ases, !hy one believer en5oys so muh more tran3uillity and heerful
hope than another, !ho may be e3ually sinere, and e3ually fervent in spirit.
- melanholy temperament, or a disposition to antiipate the !orse in all matters, and
to ontemplate the dar* side of the piture, has doubtless a "reat effet in modifyin" the
e.erises of many pious people. They are naturally "loomy and despondin", and they brin"
this temper !ith them into reli"ion. They are al!ays full of doubts and fears, and thou"h they
do really possess the harateristis of piety, they !ill not be enoura"ed to hope !ith
onfidene. They han" their heads daily li*e the bulrush, and are of a sorro!ful spirit, and
refuse to be omforted. >n the other hand, persons of a san"uine temperament, as in other
thin"s, so in reli"ion, are disposed to vie! every thin" in the most favorable li"ht+ and
althou"h their evidenes may really be no learer than his !ho is forever in doubt and
distress+ yet they herish a favorable opinion of their spiritual state. That, ho!ever, !hih !e
!ish to inulate is, that true piety is an abidin" priniple, !hih, ho!ever the feelin"s may
flutuate, never beomes e.tint.
6. >ne of the ertain effets of divine illumination is an inreasin" *no!led"e of the
sinfulness of our o!n hearts. These vie!s of inbred orruption are indeed most appallin" and
disoura"in"+ they are also une.peted+ but they are amon" the most salutary !ith !hih !e
are favored+ and they furnish the best evidene of the "enuineness of a !or* of "rae.
'yporites may tal* muh of the !i*edness of their hearts, and even e.eed all bounds in the
ausations !hih they brin" a"ainst themselves+ but their !ords are li*e the parrot8s, !ithout
meanin"+ they !ould be offended if any one believed only a small part of their self0
ausations. Their ob5et is not to be thou"ht orrupt and sinful, but humble and holy. True
humility, ho!ever, arises out of this *no!led"e of our o!n hearts, and is proportioned to the
de"ree of self0*no!led"e !hih !e possess. These spiritual vie!s also ut up by the root self0
ri"hteousness and self0dependene. The man !ho *no!s the orruption of his o!n heart, and
the seret defets of his holiest emotions and best affetions, !ill never be disposed to plae
the least dependene on his o!n !or*s. This *no!led"e also stirs him up to prayer, by
sho!in" him his ur"ent neessities.
E. The truly re"enerated man hates, opposes, and endeavors to e.tirpate all sin. 'e an
say !ith =avid, ,$ esteem all thy preepts onernin" all thin"s to be ri"ht, and $ hate every
false !ay., -lthou"h on ertain oasions sinful propensities may "ain a temporary dominion,
and he may fall, li*e ;oah, =avid, and Peter, into "rievous trans"ressions+ yet is not a sinful
life the hoie of his heart, nor is it his purpose to indul"e in sinA and !hen overome by its
po!er, li*e an elasti body bent out of its usual position, he 3ui*ly returns to his habitual
state of feelin" and atin". 'e soon finds the pleasure of sin turned into !orm!ood and "all+
he !eeps li*e Peter !hen he reflets upon his shameful in"ratitude+ and li*e =avid in the fifty0
first Psalm, he ma*es penitent onfession of his sin, and earnestly prays for pardon, leansin",
the restoration of divine favor and spiritual 5oy. These falls are li*e bro*en bones or disloated
5oints+ they are apt to "ive pain in the retrospet as lon" as life endures+ but %od over0rules
even our faults sometimes for "ood, by ma*in" them the oasion of teahin" us more
thorou"hly our o!n !ea*ness and the depth of our orruption, and by renderin" us more
!athful and more sensible of our dependene on divine aid for ontinuane in a state of
"rae.
8. -s the !ord of %od furnishes both the motive and the ob5et of all spiritual
affetions, it annot but be very dear to the rene!ed heart, espeially as it reveals #hrist in all
his offies as the 1edeemer of his people. -s naturally and instintively as the ne! born babe
thirsts after the nutriment !hih flo!s from the mother8s breast, so the youn" hild of "rae
desires the sinere or unadulterated mil* of the !ord, that it may "ro! thereby. ,> ho! love $
thy la!, is the lan"ua"e of his heart. 'is estimation of the !ord is above all the most preious
treasures of earth. ,(ore to be desired than "old, yea than muh fine "old., -nd pleasant as
!ell as preious. ,&!eeter also than honey or the honeyomb., Therefore, ,he deli"hts in the
la! of the 4ord, and in his la! doth he meditate day and ni"ht., - lively relish for divine truth,
and a ordial approbation of all %od8s !ord is one mar* of a renovation of heart. :very true
onvert is a student of the /ible, a disiple at the feet of 9esus !hom alone he a*no!led"es to
be an infallible Teaher. The lon"er he lives the more hi"hly does he appreiate the sared
&riptures and he finds in them a !ell sprin" of life, a never failin" soure of onsolation.
F. - re"enerated man loves the people of %od. ,'ereby,, says the apostle 9ohn, ,!e
*no! that !e are passed from death to life beause !e love the brethren., This, in the reli"ion
of #hrist, is onsidered to be a priniple of vital importane. >ur 4ord himself inulated no
duty more fre3uently or more ur"ently. This he alls ,a ne! ommandment+, and, indeed,
ma*es it the bad"e by !hih his disiples should be *no!n by the !orld. ,'ereby shall all men
*no! that ye are my disiples by the love !hih ye have for one another., The apostles also, in
their !ritin"s, e.hibited the obli"ation of #hristians to e.erise this holy affetion, !ith "reat
learness and fre3ueny. /rotherly love, !hen "enuine, is e.ited by the onsideration that
#hristians are the redeemed, adopted, and a*no!led"ed brethren of their 4ord. They are
loved for the (aster8s sa*e. -nd a"ain, they are loved beause they bear the ima"e of #hrist.
4ove to the brethren is a vital branh sprin"in" out of the root of love to %od himself. ,:very
one that loveth him that be"at, loveth him also that is be"otten of him. /y this !e *no! that
!e love the hildren of %od !hen !e love %od and *eep his ommandments.,
1G. - soul that is born of %od ardently and habitually desires to "lorify %od by all
pratiable means. This is the hi"hest end, as it is the daily end of all the real hildren of %od.
They do not !ish to live for themselves, but for him !ho "ave himself for them. They endeavor
to asertain, from a onsideration of their o!n talents and irumstanes, and from the
aspets of Providene, in !hat oupation, station, or profession, they an serve %od most
effetually. -nd they "ladly sei2e opportunities of advanin" the interests of #hrist8s *in"dom.
Their faulties, their learnin", their influene, po!er, and property, are all onserated to
%od+ and they onsider themselves as ste!ards of these several talents, !hih they are under
the most sared obli"ation to improve for his advanta"e. This aim is not onfined to ations
omparatively important, but is e.tended to all the ommon onerns of this life. $n eatin",
drin*in", plo!in", so!in", and in !hatever they do, they study to "lorify %od. 'e !ho is born
of %od has his mind direted to %od. 'e sets his affetions on thin"s above, and not on thin"s
on the earth.
11. - re"enerated man has his !ill s!allo!ed up in the !ill of %od. ,Thy !ill be done,,
is his daily prayer from his inmost soul. This a3uiesene in the divine !ill is omplete 5ust so
far as his heart is rene!ed, and every feelin" of disontent, relutane or opposition !hih he
feels, in relation to %od8s administration, he ondemns as sinful rebellion. )hen alled to
suffer, he bears the rod !ith filial submission, and thou"h he may be" to be released from the
pressure of heavy afflition, yet he as*s this in submission to the !ill of %od. $f these
hastisements, ho!ever "rievous, an be for the "lory of %od, or so santified to him as to
promote his faith and patiene, he is !illin" to endure them, and even to have them inreased.
True piety never appears more "enuine, and never more attrative, than !hen the people of
%od are sufferin" in deep afflition. Trials are to "rae !hat the furnae is to metalsA they
prove its "enuineness and purify it from its dross. /elievers annot *no! their o!n sinerity,
nor the stren"th of their o!n faith, until they are tried.
1B. The only other effet of re"eneration !hih !e shall mention is a "rateful sense of
the love and "oodness of %od. %ratitude is the soul of heart0reli"ion. 6nre"enerate men may
and often do e.periene a sensation of natural "ratitude+ and on some oasions it may ome
upon them !ith a "ush of feelin". &uh emotions are amiable and salutary, but they are
transient, and involve no pereption of the moral e.ellene of %od. /ut the rene!ed man
herishes this lively sense of %od8s "oodness ontinually. $t is the most fre3uent emotion of
the heart, and has the most po!erful and pratial influene upon his life. 'e is onstrained
by the love of #hrist !ho died for him. 'e sees in the manifestation of that love, moral
e.ellene beyond e.pression. $t is the bri"htest point in his hori2on. -nd the more he
ontemplates this "lory, the more is he fired !ith the love of "ratitude. 'is only !ish to live, is
for #hristA his stron"est motive for !ishin" to depart, is to be !ith #hrist. 'eaven appears
infinitely desirable beause there, an eternity !ill be spent in praisin" the 1edeemer.